About This Role

The Interior Design program at Kansas State University is searching for a new team member at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor. This 9-month position has a starting date of August 2026, with a competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. 

Our program’s hallmarks reflect the scholarly and practice expertise of the faculty and our mutual commitment to preparing entry-level professionals to apply skills and knowledge needed for teamwork, collaboration, and evidence-based design that promote health and well-being.  We invite experienced practitioners and scholars who are passionate about interior design and its potential to improve human health and well-being to apply for this position. We are searching for a colleague with creative energy, drive, and a future-oriented vision who shares our values of research and design and has a collaborative spirit. Candidates should be committed to a tripartite mission of teaching, creative and/or scholarly research, and service. 

Teaching (60-70% of appointment)

The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to teach in design studios across the ID curriculum and the capability to integrate contemporary methods into studio instruction through proficiency in design software commonly used in practice today, specifically Revit, Enscape, and the Adobe Creative Suite. The candidate should be able to develop courses and teach in two or more of the following areas: ID studio coursework (various levels), environment and behavior, evidence-based design, materials and construction, and/or digital visualization. Application materials must demonstrate practice and/or teaching excellence in these areas. Our faculty co-teach studio courses. This requires a high level of teamwork, and as such, candidates should have collaborative practice experience and support this approach in teaching and learning.

Creative and Scholarly Agenda (20-30% of appointment)

The successful tenure-track candidate will demonstrate the ability to develop research and/or creative scholarship based on their teaching and/or creative interests, academic training, and/or professional expertise. These interests will form the core of their scholarly/creative agenda and serve as a portion of the basis for promotion and advancement. 

Service (10-20% of appointment)

The successful tenure-track candidate will demonstrate the ability to provide effective institutional and professional service. This comprises contributions to departmental governance, college and university committees, and professional communities, enhancing the department's visibility and faculty's professional development.

About Us

This past year, our program celebrated 100 years of interior design education at Kansas State University. In July 2024, the program moved from the College of Health & Human Sciences to the College of Architecture, Planning and Design (APDesign). Our new home in the Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design (IAID) is built upon a 60-year tradition of providing students with a nationally recognized and innovative education. The relocation of our program aligns with a pivotal time in the profession as we adapt to new technologies and develop new ideas for pedagogy, curriculum, and research.

APDesign provides opportunities for faculty and student collaboration with colleagues in the Master’s programs of Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, and the Departments of Architecture and Landscape and Regional Community Planning. Seaton Regnier Hall (the home of APDesign Programs) has the latest technology and houses a world-class facility with 20,000 sq. ft. of fabrication and research laboratories. Our new and robust environment of creative disciplines, collaborative opportunities, and technical infrastructure will launch our next phase of change and advancement. 

Today, the Interior Design program has 5 full-time faculty and 134 students. The Interior Design program manages enrollment by admitting students selectively. We are accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and the National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). 

Students in the K-State Interior Design Program have received international recognition through design competitions and strong industry support from alumni and employers for workplace readiness and ability to contribute to team effectiveness. Although not required, the vast majority of our students have an internship experience before completing their degree with us. The Interior Design faculty approach design education as a team of engaged scholars who facilitate student success through experiences in and out of the classroom. This success is proven by our students’ degree completion time and employment rates. In Spring 2025, 100% of Interior Design graduates completed their degree in 4 years.   

Please apply to join us if you want to work with a faculty team that co-teaches studios and continuously improves our courses and curriculum to ensure students experience a coordinated education that reflects intellectually diverse perspectives. We support these approaches to education with the hope that our interior design students will become stewards of professionalism and ethical responsibility for social issues vital to design practice. The perspective we share is a belief that interior designers change the world through evidence-based design that meets societal challenges while meeting client expectations. 

Additional information may be found at www.ksu.edu (university), apdesign.k-state.edu (college), apdesign.k-state.edu/IAID (department) and www.manhattan.org (community).  

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree or higher in Interior Design or related field. 
• Minimum of 3 years of professional practice experience in Interior Design/Architecture.
• Demonstrated excellence in written and visual communication requisite for the design disciplines. 
• Demonstrated knowledge of industry standard of 2D and 3D CAD modeling software, specifically Revit, Enscape, AutoCAD, and/or the Adobe Creative Suite.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in Interior Design or related field. 
• More than 3 years of professional practice experience in Interior Design/Architecture
• NCIDQ Certificate Holder and/or passed the Architect Registration Examination.
• Other professional certifications relevant to the design profession (e.g., WELL, EDAC, NKBA, LEED, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to teach different levels of undergraduate design studios and capable of serving in a co-teaching leadership role. 
• Demonstrated versatility to develop and teach lectures in required areas of the curriculum. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop a scholarly/creative agenda related to their academic/professional expertise. 
• Record of service to the academic and/or professional communities. 

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

• Required to submit the following into one compiled PDF document. 
• Letter of interest addressing qualifications. 
• Curriculum vitae. 
• Professional portfolio.
• Teaching portfolio, if taught previously. 
• List of three academic and/or professional references with full contact information.

Application Window

For best consideration, apply by Dec. 1, 2025

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$70,000-78,000